FromSoftware’s action RPGs have never been known for going above and beyond in terms of raw graphical quality, but in most cases, their fidelity is good. enough that their phenomenal art direction takes them the rest of the way and makes them look very impressive. A title in which this it was not The case, however, is 2014’s Dark Souls 2.
Dark Souls 2 has an appeal if not inconsistent art style, although it is quite disappointed by the game’s infamously flat and washed out lighting, along with many repeated textures throughout its levels. As a result, I have always felt that he is the ugliest of the dark souls games by far, and I think both the original and the third entry are much more pleasing to the eye.
One thing you should keep in mind if you decide to try the mod is that it will make the game considerably more difficult in several places, as some areas will now be completely dark but will still have enemies that will spot you perfectly. You’ll need to have a torch or other lighting sources on hand, which is something I really think is cool.
Another consideration: DS2LightingEngine only works with the Scholar of the First Sin edition of Dark Souls 2 that came out in 2015, which fortunately is only $14.99 on Loaded right now (normally $39.99). Additionally, you will need a GPU with ray tracing capabilities to use the full version of the mod with path tracing. If you don’t have one, you’ll be limited to a less advanced rasterization one.
Be sure to read the full description of the mod on its page as it explains how to install everything correctly. Please note that while it states that the mod is safe to use while playing online, I saw a post from a player saying that he was banned from the Dark Souls 2 servers several hours after playing with it.
Another mod they were using may have caused this, but anyway: be aware of the risk if you decide to connect with DS2LightingEngine. Fortunately, once a modder Yui ends your Dark Souls 2 Seamless Co-op project, this will no longer be a concern as you will use separate peer-to-peer connections.
Are you thinking about trying the DS2LightingEngine mod yourself? What are your general thoughts on Dark Souls 2? Let me know in the comments and vote which Dark Souls game is your favorite in the poll below.
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